Fire-arch.



c. E. MILLER.

FIRE ARCH. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5; I912.

2mm may 4,1915,

2 snzm -suin nuenfor Char/es E M/Z/er c. 'E. MILLER.

7 FIRE ARCH v APPLICM'SON FILED JAN-15.1912.

2 SHEEY.S-SNEET 2.

mmm my 4, 1915.

iiruirn CHARLES EUGENE MILLER, OFOHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .LESSIGNOR, IVEEEFNE ASSIGN- v1 11iENTS, T0 AMERICAN ARCH CGMPANY, OF NEW 03K, N. Y., A COR-PQRATIGN 0F DELAWARE.

T0 (ZZZ whom it may concern i Be it known that I, CnARLEs E. Minna, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, lllinois,have invented certain new and useful improvements in Fire-Arches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to 'improvements in boiler furnace.--,, and it re lates more particularly to improvements in bafile Walls or fire arches of the type adapted particularly for locomotive boiler furnaces that are equipped with arch supporting tubes.

The general object of my invention is to improve the form, arrangement, and con struction of such arches to enable the same to be built at low cost, to. be installed easily, and to be maintained inworking order at maximum efiiciency, with but little attention. 7

Another object of'my invention is to provide a sectional arch for locomotive fire boxes having a group of arch tubes, which shall be easily adjustable to irregularities in the spacing or arrangement of the arch supporting tubes and side sheets, in order that a limited number of'brick sizes will accommodate or bcsuited to all sizes of locomotive fire boxes; and a further object is to provide a sectional brick fire arch supported upon arch tubes in a locomotive fire box and arranged and positioned so that cracking or breaking of individual arch bricks will not disturb the other bricks of the arch, and will not seriously impair the effective operation of the arch.

My invention consists generally in a locomotive boiler firc box comprising agroup of arch tubes longitudinally arranged therein, a plurality of bricks resting'upon the tubes and abuting each other, said bricks being adapted for limited transverse movement in the fire box, and inclined key bricks resting upon the outermost of the tube sup? ported bricks and Wedgingly abutting the side sheetsL My invention consists further in an arch for locomotive fire boxes equipped with a group of arch supporting tubes of less width than the fire box, a plurality of bricks resting upon said arch tubes and abutting each other, said bricks being substantially coextensive with the group of arch tubes, por- Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Eliay 41, 19 15.

Application filed January 15, 1912. Serial fie. 6218-54.

tions of said bricks projecting betWeen'the tubes in inannerto permit slight transverse movement of the bricks, and key bricks rest-- ing upon the outermost tube supported bricks and wedgingly abutting the side sheets.

' My invention also consists in the unique shape of the bricks, arrangement upon the tubes, and location inthe fire box whereby the objects named above, as Well as other objects which will appear hereinafter, are attained.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred forms thereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section ofalocomotive boiler fire box equipped with a fire arch embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed transverse section of the fire arch substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig 2 but illustrating a modified form of my invention; Figs 4 and 5 illustrate different forms of the tube supported bricks; and Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate various forms of the inclined side or key bricks.

The form of my invention shown in the drawings is particularly designed for locomotive fire, boxes in order to meet the peculiar conditions there prevailing. A locomotive arch in use is subjected to constant vibration and at times is severely shaken. This action frequently cracks or breaks certain of thebric-ks with the result that in many of the arches hitherto devised the cracked bricks, and sometimes many other bricks of the arch fall into the fuel bed". The beneficial eil'ect of the arch is thereby destroyed and the eliiciency of the boiler therefore diminished. In other instances, even when there are no broken bricks, the construction of the arch is such that the constant vibration of the locomotive, combined with severe jolts at .times, causes one or more of the bricks to creep off the tubes and fall into the fuel bed.

I shall now describe in detail my arch which cures the defects mentioned above and which also has many other advantageous features.

The locomotive fire box, as here shown, comprises the flue sheet 2, side sheets 3, 3, rear sheet i, and crown sheet 5. Flues 7 inclined position.

i extend forward from the upper part of the flue sheet and communicate with the smoke box at the front end of the locomotive. The fire box formed by the front, rear, and crown sheets is inclosed by the outer or boiler shell 8' which is spaced therefrom to form the front, side, and rear water legs 9, 9 and r 9". Most locomotives are now equipped with arch-supporting tubes and to such locoi'notives my-invention can be applied without alteration, but with the fire boxes not containing arch tubes it is necessary to install a group of arch supporting tubes. The arch tubes 10 extend from the lower part of the flue sheet 2 to the upper part of the rear sheet 4:, thus occupying an Water flows through these tubes from the front water leg 9 to the rear water leg 9 and protects the tubes from burning.

There are several types of locomotive fire boxes, which differ primarily in width, two

of the well known types being the wide type and narrow type. In all types of l same functions, the numbers therof being fire boxes, however, the arch tubes serve the varied to accommodate bricks of convenient size and shape, which is usually determined that size of brick which can be passed through the fuel door. Arches are sometimes loeated on the arch tubes near the flue sheet in which instance they are termed front arches, and sometimes near the rear rear arches.

sheet in which instance they are termed The tubes 10 are usually arranged equally distant between centers throughout the width of the firebox, and the outermost tubes 10', which I shall herein term the side tubes are spaced from the side sheets, in this instance, slightly less than the distance between tube centers. 0n the arch tubes 10 near the flue sheet, I arrange refractory bricks forming an arch. This arch is therefore a front arch but I wish it to be understood that my arch is adapted for installation either as a rear arch or as a front arch. The arch is composed of a plurality of substantially identical bricks 11, which rest on the arch tubes 10. The bricks '11 are preferably of a width equal to the distance between the centers of the arch tubes so that they normally rest at each end upon and the side sheets, I preferably provide" upwardly inclined key bricks -1212, which rest upon the side bricks of the arch 1 body, and which wedgingly engage the side sheets. The weight of the'key bricks 12 tends to move the bricks of the arch body body. This action 'is augmented by the vibration of the locomotive, so that the individual bricks of the arch are bound into a rigid whole. New, should either or any of the bricks of the arch body become cracked or broken, the pressure of'the. other bricks against it, caused by the key bricks 12', tends to prevent it from falling into the fuel bed. If the brick should be so badly broken that it would fall from the tube notwithstanding the pressure of the-key'bricks, the key bricks would shove the other bricks oftthe tubes, unless means are provided to limit the transverse movement of the arch body bricks. Therefore I provide the bricks 11 with steps 11 on their undersides which only permit limited movement.v The steps 11' are preferably spaced from the sides of the brick a distance slightly greater than the radius of the arch tubes. This will permit them to move slightly, but will not permit them to move enough to fall from the tube in an integral condition. The stops are preferably of the lug or rib construction and arrangement, shown in Figs. 4 and 5,

since the weight of the bricks is thereby kept at a. minimum, but they may be formed by a solid depending bottom portion.

Since the key bricks 12 are inclined upwardly and since the lower end rests upon the side bricks ofthe arch body, the tendency is for the lower end to slide inwardly on the arch body and downwardly on the side sheets of the firebox. To prevent this I preferably provide the lower end with ribs or lugs 12 so that the key brick has a portion abutting the top of the body brick and a.

portion abutting the side of the body brick as clearly shown in Fig. 2.' The lugs 12' may be arranged either as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 or in any other suitable manner.

Another advantageous feature of my construction is that the brick is adapted to slight irregularities in the spacing of the arch tubes. When the arch tubes are built in a locomotive atthe time of its construction, the arch tubes are generally parallel and equally spaced throughout the width of thefire box, but at times due to the arrangementand location of the stay bolts and for other reasons, it is not possible to space them absolutely equally distant.

When the tubes are installed in old locomotives it is even more difiicult to secure uni fornispacmg of the arch tubes. The result ferent spaced rchiiicn;

is ihat several sizes 01": brick fer a, given size or lire bricks must he provided cr else the hrichs must he made adjustable in some clear ncr to fit tubes which are arranged in difin many of ihe arches hitherto devised sdjustehiiifiy has been. accomplished by providing -he bricks with variously zn'rzmged inciined edges, but the objection to such bricks is that there is no positive h'lecns limiting he movement, of the brick, and the resuh, is shat-"fills bricks often, work eff the tubes when subjected to constant; vibration Further, when bricks of this ccusflsrucbien are subjected ice-a. side thrust, such as is caused by key bcicks arranged he teen the side sheets and the sides of the arch body, the hrichs tend is eiimh upon. cne another so cm one end moves from is; support and the brick fziiis was she fuel bed, The bricks of my arch will accommodee themselves irreguhiri sies in tube spacing wiihcut danger fishing cf? the "tubes from ci'r-cer cf the causes above men ticncd, because of the positive step lugs on the hrich.

The nic fled form my invention shown in Fig" diiiers frcm that shown in Fig. 1 and in that the arch supported hrici have mised upper portions 11 against which the he)" bricks 12" abut With this form of arch I em cnui'iicd ice dispense with the ribs er ingqs '12 u'gmn cz'idersidc stifthe hey bricks i; (see i igs. 3, said 8).

The emhcdimenu' of my inven -icn shown (we KL-mcs many she defects which are girei'ziicnt in she locomotive fire arch-cs new in u mid ziiscmzmy of she objections urged zigz'mns'c the vast number of locomc'iive ire arches hither'w devised but not cinbcdied in cprmtii'e siructures. i can however, canceive 0i. other modified icrms of arches which ccuid he constructed Wit-heir;- (i8p211"- inc: from ihc spirit of my invention and I dc m Hierehirc wish to be. confined er limi zed hi miiy ihc emhcdimenis of my invention herein shown and (iCSiJl'iiJ i Having descrihed my invcn v'icn What 1 chi m is new nd dcsirc in secure by Lest ere Parent is.

1. A fire arch comprising supporting tuhes; bricks,- forming an arch body loosely resting upon said tubes and shutting each other; means on Said bricks fer permitting cniy limit-ed transverse mcvcmcnt thereof fimnsverseiy with respect to said L lugs being posit-icncd to permit slight mcvcment' of said bricks hue not sufficient movemen-i, to permit them failing between said tubes, and inclined key-bricks resting upcxr the side bricks and against the sides of the firebox, substantially as described.

3. A fire arch cozziprising suppcrting tubes; Iirc bricks having their ends lcosely resting on adjacent tuhes and shutting the ends of adjacent bricks; sicp lugs extending downwardly between said cubes, said lugs being pcsiticncd to permit slight movement of said bricks but 110a sufiicient movement to permit 01"" she bricks failing between said tubes; and ineiined hey-bricks resting upon the upper ouiz'er corners thecnd bricks and against the-sides cf the fire hex, suhsbcnchilly (IS described.

L In a ieccmotive hoiier firebox, a group 0' icngifiudinaiiy extending arch tubes of less width has the fireh-cx, an arch hc/dy supported 011 said tubes and laterally cc-extensive therewith, said arch body ccmprising 1 plurality of cbutt-inghrick, each one r' i'cg" upon swc adjacent iches, and hsving stop pert-ions depending between tubes and slightly spaced therefreim inclined hey bricks resting;- upcn the side bricks of the arch body and against the side sheets and pressing the brick of She arch body together, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a lcccmctive boiler fil'e box a group cf icngitudinaily extending arch 'iuhes of less width than the fire '00:; and an arch body supported upon said tubes and ccmprising a, phmiiity cf uhuiiii'xg; bricks; each of which resibs upcn 3W0 adjacent e-rch tubes and is provided with step portions dc" ending hei-wcen the tubes and siig'htiy c} iced therefrom es and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof i have signed my name t0 this spci-ii'icaticii in ihe presence of two subscribing wiincsscs.

(EARL CS ICU-(i ENE MILLER.

Wiinesses:

G. RAH,

bro. 1*. mm. 

